NHS strike is suspended after fresh pay offer is put on the table

Victoria West

A planned walk-out by NHS staff has been postponed while a new pay offer is considered.

Medical professionals were due to strike for 12 hours tomorrow (Thursday) while ambulance workers were expected to walk out for 24 hours in protest.

A national meeting of union representatives will take place on Wednesday, February 4 when the full details of the new pay offer will be set out and a timetable for consultation agreed.

Union GMB national officer Rehana Azam said: “GMB is pleased that after a week of talks we have secured a new offer. This enables us to suspend the strike action while we consult with our members on whether they wish to accept the offer or not.”

The threat to walk out came just weeks after Bedford Hospital had to declare a ‘significant incident’ after its A&E department became overwhelmed with patients.

All routine surgery and a range of out-patient and diagnostic clinics had to be cancelled temporarily to free up resources for those most in need.